On February 28, an informative session about the BioMARathon, an international citizen science event, was hosted by the EMBIMOS research team. The discussion aimed at seeking new organisations interested in bringing the event format to their local coastal areas.

The BioMARathon is an event promoted by the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC). It aims to contribute to the global biodiversity conservation efforts through regional monitoring events. The participants, both citizens and researchers, gather to record and identify species on their local coastal sites. The collected data is saved in an open format on the MINKA platform and can be used for management and research purposes.

The BioMARathon model, originating on the Catalonian coast in 2021, is replicable in other regions worldwide. In 2024, a successful event in the northern coasts of Portugal was organised by researchers from the BIOPOLIS project, led by the Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO) – over 1700 species were observed and identified. 

Within that context, the informative session brought together participants from many universities, research institutions, and organisations related to biodiversity. During the meeting, attendees learned about the concept of the BioMARathon, how to use the MINKA platform, and the guidelines to organise such an event in their area. 

Learn more about organising BioMARathons here or watch the video session here.